Lasting machine



1944- A. EPPLER, JR

LASTING MACHINE Filed July 22 1942 4 SheptS-Sheet 1 Jan. 25-, 1.944. A. EPF'LER, JR LASTING MACHINE Filed July 22, 1942 4- Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 25, 1944. A, EPPLER, JR

LASTING MACHINE Filed July 22, 1942 4.Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 25, 1944.

A. EPPLER, JR 2,339,774

LASTING momma Filed July 22, 1942 4 SheetsSh eet 4 Patented Jan. 25, 1944 OFFICE LASTING MACHINE Andrew Eppler, Jr; Lynn, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery CorporatiornFlemington. N. J. a corporation of New Jersey Application July 22, 1942, Serial No. 451,889

22 Claims. ('01. 12-14) This invention relates to upper-shaping machines and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine for lasting prewelt shoes; A machine of this type is illustrated in United States Let-- ters Patent No. 2,045,595, granted June 30, 1936 on an application filed in the names of A, E. C. Hall et al.

In the manufacture of prewelt shoes, in order 7 to obtain accurately matched-pairs, it is important to achieve a high degree of uniformity in the operation of the lasting wipers. While such uniformity is important in lasting machines generally, it is particularly important in prewelt lastingmachines, the operation of which involves the placement of the welt as well as the overwiping of the upper. The desired uniformity in the lasting operation involves not only the accurate limitation of the advancement of the wipers themselves lengthwise of the shoe but also the accurate positioning of the shoe relatively to the wipers for the lasting operation. It is usual in machines of this type to position the shoe relatively to the wipers by means of an endembracing band. In prewelt lastingmachines it is highly desirable that the band be accurately located and securely held in operating position in order to insure the correct location of the -shoe both lengthwise thereof and widthwise thereof wipers, thereby to insure apredetermined and uniform overwipe of the extreme end portion of With the above and other objects in view, the present invention in one aspect the upper.

thereof, as applied to a lasting machine having end-lasting wipers which advance bodily in their open position to a predetermined point and then close about said point as a fulcrum, provides a rigidly mounted member having a definite rela-' tion-to said predetermined point and constructed and arranged to support the end-embracing band; and means on the central portion of the band for rigidly mounting said central portion on said band-supporting member. trated hand is constructed and arranged to operate on the heel end portion of-the shoe, but it is to be' understood that it is within the scope The illusof the present invention to provide such a band f for the toe' portion of the shoe,if so desired In order to permit the extent of overwipe the end portion of the upper to be altered as may be required, 'meansis provided for adjusting the band-supporting memberlengthwise of the shoe.

In the illustrated machine, as in end-lasting machines generally; the band performs the additional function of bringing the end portion of the upper into intimate contact with the last prior to the wiping operation. For performing this function, the illustrated machine, in accordance with a further. feature of the invention, is provided, in combination with means for rigidly supporting thecentral' portion of the band, with an actuator for closing the end portions of the band on the shoe, 'andequalizing means through which said actuator operates to press the end portions of the band uniformly against the opposite sides of the'shoe, said equalizing means comprising presser members constructed and ar ranged to operate 'on end portions of the band and mounted for closing movement about a common axis extending heightwise of the shoe and a crosshead supported by said presser members and freely movable with said members or either of them;- As herein illustrated, the end portions of said crosshead are pivoted to said presser members respectively, and movement of said crosshead toward the shoe causes said presser members to close'the band on the shoe.

In another aspect thereof, the invention provides an end embracing band comprising a rigid central member and flexible work-engaging means carried by. said central member, a fixed rigid member in which said central member is mounted, and band-closing means constructed and'arranged to engage opposite side portionsof theband but having-no physical connection thereto. In order to insure the intimate contact of the end portion of the upper with the last said rigid member, in accordance with a further feature of theinvention, is provided with an upper-facing surface having a curvature heightwise of the upper complemental to the heighti wise curvatureof the end portion of the last.

Other features of the invention are to be recognized in a band characterized by a rigid readily to the contours of the opposite side portions of the shoe, cushioning means is interposed between said hinged side members and the shoeeng'aging means. To insure an intimate contact I or the upper with the convex side portions of the u last'; said hand is preferably provided "with a and a seamless envelope or cover'which provides the work-engaging surface of the heel band. The

illustrated end-embracing plate has upwardly ex tending resilient fingers which together with the body portion of the plate are embedded .insai'd x'.

cover which provides the work-engaging surface of theheelband.

These and other features of theinv'en'tioii will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed: putm. theappended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partlyb'roken away and partly in section, illustrating a prewelt last: ing machine embodying the-features of thepi'es entinvention; r 1.-

Fig, 2.is a plan viewillustrating mechanism which operates on the rear part of the shoe, certain parts being sectioned to show underlying parts; m

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on a plane common to the longitudinal median line of a shoe in the machine and illustrating the mechanism which operates on the rear part of the shoe; Y L

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantiallyon the line IV-IV of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the heel head looking from the center of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a heel band pro- Fig. 9 is a plan view of the heel band illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a -section en the'line ,X.-X ,of Figs;- Fig, 11 is a section on the line XI-r-XI elf-Fig.9; Fig. 12 is a perspective view, partly broken.

away, illustrating still another form of heel band; .Fig. 13' is a sectiononthe linelXIII-eXIILof Fig, 1 2; and

Fig. 14 is a perspective view, partly insection,

illustrating a modification of the heel bandshown inFig.6. In Fig. 1 there is illustrated a prewelt lasting general organization are similar tothe toe head.

and heel head in the machine of the Hall vetal. patent. A shoe 22 is supported in inverted position in the machine by a toe rest 24 anda last support 26 which has itsupper extremitya pin 29, which enters a thimble in a last 21.- ,The lastsupport is mounted for limited swinging movee.

ment widthwise of the shoe on astud 3| at the upper end of a standard 33, such swinging movement' of. the last support permitting the reanpart of the shoe to be positioned widthwise thereof by a heelband B as hereinafter described. The toe.

rest and the last support are so positionedwen tically that "a shoe mounted thereon is initially, located below thelasting-elevation in order jtoq enable the operator tolocate the welted margin of the upper accurately with relation to the lasting instrumentalities by the depression of a treadle 28 which lifts the toe rest and the last support as a unit to bring the shoe into the lasting elevation. The movement of the treadle is imparted to the toe rest through a link 31!, the upper end of which is connected to a downward extension 32 of a head 34 on which the stem 35 off-the the rest is supported. The movement of i the treadle is imparted to the last support 26 through a vertical slide rod 38 having at its upper E "end a head 40 on which rests the head of a screw 42 extending downwardly from the standard 33. The shoe is held in the vertical position in which it is located by the-depression of the treadle 28 machine of the type disclosed-inthe Hall .=et a1. patent hereinbefore mentioned. The illustrated machine is provided with a standard '20 which carries a toe head and a heel head which in their.

is released by thedepression of a treadle 44 to.

permit the return tion.

As usual in machines of this type, the last supporting assemblyis in its forward position illustrated in Fig. 1 when the shoe is placed on the work supports. After the shoe has been moved upwardly into the correct lasting elevation the last supporting assembly is moved to the right, as themachine is viewed in Fig. 1, by the actuation of a slide 43 on which the standard 33 is mounted, to bring the shoe into operating relation to the heel end-lasting mechanism, such movement of the slide 43 being elfected as usual by the operation ofa hand wheel 46 which turns a pinion 4'! arranged to mesh with rack teeth in the slide. Simultaneously with the operation of the hand wheel 46 the toe rest 24 is moved to the right with the shoe by the operation of a hand wheel (notjshown) common to machines of this type. See Fig.1 of United States Letters Patent No. 2,042,518, granted June 2, 1936, on an application filed in the name of Karl Engel. The position of the. shoe relatively to the heel head is accurately determinedby the engagement of the shoe with thecentral portion of the heel band B, as shown in Fig. 3. In order that the shoe may be located relatively to the rear part of the heel head with of the shoe to its initial posia high degree of accuracy, the heel band is so constructed and so mounted that it provides a positivestop, for the shoe. As illustrated in Figs.

a croshead. 52 which, as illustrated in Fig. 5, is-

mounted on flat end portion of a lower crosshead; 54 secured to a Wiper-carrying head 56 by screws'ifl, extending upwardly through slots 59 (Fi'g. .l) in the crosshead 52, said slots permitting adjustment of the crosshead 52 for a purpose now to be described. It will be understood that the screws 5 will be retracted somewhat to permit such adliustive movement of the crosshead 52 and upon resetting will secure the crosshead 52 in adjustedposition. Inasmuch as the lasting wipers hereinafter described Y have a predetermined movement relatively, to the heel head 56, it will be understood that the heel band, by positioning the shoe accurately relatively to the heel head determines the extent of overwipe of the lasting wipers over the back-seam portion of the upper. In ordemto permit an adjustment of the extent of overwipe of said backesea'm portion, the cross- 4 head- 52 may be adjusted, as above described, rela-' tively to the wiper-carryinghead 56 by turning two screws 58 threaded into horizontal tapped holes at opposite sides of the wiper-carrying head, said screws being provided with fiat, round heads 68 which operate in complemental grooves 62 in opposite end portionsof the crosshead 52.

When the machine i at. rest, the opposite side or end portions of the heel band B are spaced apart from each other to an extent somewhat greater than the width of therear portion of the shoe. After the central portion of the heel band has been brought into engagement with the backseam portion of the upper by the advancement of the shoe by the hand wheel 46, the opposite side portions of the heel band are pressed against the-upper with suflicient force to bring the upper into intimate contact with the last by mechanism now to be described. In the illustrated organization; the heel band is thu closed on the upper by the operation of the usual wiper-actuating hand lever, a portion of which is identified by the numeral 54 in Fig. 2. The hand lever 64 is fulcrumed at 86 on a swinging arm 68 and is pivotally connected to a pin 18 projecting upwardly from a collar 12 which is secured to a sliding shaft I4 which actuates the wipers. Referring to Fig. 3, the left end of the shaft I4 acts against a flange 82 on a sleeve 16 to close the heel band. In order that the hand lever 64 may first close the heel band on the upper and then continue its operation to actuate the wipers, the sleeve 16' acts against a spring I8 surrounding a shaft 88 slidably mounted in said sleeve and projecting from the left end of the sleeve, as seen in Fig. 3. The spring I8 is confined between the flange82 on the sleeve I8 and a flange 84 on a nut 86 mounted on a threaded end portion 88 of the shaft 88. When the machine i at rest the shaft 88 is positioned with the head 81 (Fig. 2) at the right end of said shaft abutting the sleeve I6 and the spring 18 under slight compression. The pressure of the side portions of the heel band against the upper effected by the operation of the hand lever 84 may be varied by adjusting the position of the nut 85 on the shaft 88 in order to v'arythe initial compression of the spring 18, said nut being secured in adjusted position by a lock nut I9. To facilitate such adjustment of the nut 86} the head 81 of the shaft 88 is grooved to receive a screw driver.

For closing the heel band on the upper, two L-shaped arms or jaws 92 and 94 (Fig. 4) are pivoted together at a fulcrum point'positioned Figs. 3 and 5, the adjacent end portions of thearms 92 and 94 form a halved joint which is held against separation and against upward movement away from the crosshead 54' by a headed screw I82 threaded into a tapped hole in the hub I88,

said screw carrying a washer I84'which engages the bottom surface of the crosshead to hold the arms 92 and 94 against the upward movement. At their free ends, the arms 92 and 94 carry heel band engaging presser feet I88 (Fig. 4) mounted for rocking-movement on said arms 92 and 94. Mounted in the space between said arms and the crosshead 52 (Fig. 3) is an angular crosshead I88 the opposite encl'portions of which are receive slabbed portions of pivot pins I' I2 extending upwardly from the elbows of the L-shaped arms 92 and 94. The central portion of the angular crosshead I89 lies adjacent to one end of the shaft 88 which is moved to the left, as seen in Fig. 3, by the operation of the heel wiper lever 84 to advance said crosshead and thereby to actuate the heel band closing assembly. It will be understood that the heel band closing assembly will require no adjustment for operating alternately on right and left shoes, since each of the arms 92 and 94 is free to swing independently of the other and the angular crosshead I88 is freely mounted for swinging movement with said arms. Thus, if in the heel band closing operation the arm 92 comes to the limit of its band-closing movement prior tothe arm 94, the angularcrosshead will swing about the pivot pin H2 in the;

the degree of pressure being determined by the adjustment of the spring "I8 (Fig. 3).

The wiper-actuating mechanism is substantially the same as illustrated in United States Letters Patent No. 2,297,697, granted October 6, 1942, on an application filed in the names of thepresent applicant and E. L. Butler. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, rear part wipers II 4 are removably secured to wiper carriers H6 having cam slots H8 in. which operate rolls I28 carried by a plate I22 (Fig. 3) mounted in the heel head for sliding movement lengthwise of the shoe. The

wipers are actuated by the advancement of the sliding shaft 14 by the hand lever 64, said shaft having a crosshead I24 which is connected by links I26 to the wiper carriers H5. During the first stage of the advancement ofthe wiper assembly, the wipers are held in their open or outspread position, since the plate I22 is advanced by the hand lever 84 through the action of a spring I28 mounted in a horizontal bore I38 in the wiper-carrying head and confined between a; cylindrical sliding member I32 in said bore and a.

collar I34 secured to the shaft I4, the member I32 engaging the plate I22. Upon completion of the overwiping of the back-seam portion of the upper, the plate I22 is arrested by a stop pin I38 in a cover plate I38 secured to the wiper-carrying head, said pin projecting downwardly into a longitudinal groove I48 in the slidingplate I22..

During the continued movementof the shaft I4 after the plate I22 has been thus arrested, the wiper carriers H8 move relatively to said plate I22, thus bringing the cam mechanism comprising the slots H8 and rolls I28 into operation to close the wipers on the sides of the rear part of the shoe without further toeward movement of their adjacent heel portions.

In Figs. 6 to 14 there are illustrated four types of heel band which may be employed in the illustrated machine. The heel band illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7 is shown in Fig. 3 mounted in the machine. This heel band comprises a leather lining I42 and a resilient metal backing plate I44 secured together by rivets I48. At its central portion, the plate I44'is positioned between the dovetailed plate 48 and a rigid member I48, the.

three parts being secured together by rivets I58 (Fig. 7). Referring 'to Fig. 3, theheel band is positioned heightwise of the shoe in the machine by'a screw. I 82 threaded into atapped hole in provided with open-ended slots I I8 (Fig. .4) whichthe crosshead 52, said screw having around flat head which enters a complementally shaped groove in the plate 43. The lining-engaging surface of the rigid member I 48 has a curvature, as shown in Fig. 3, which is complemental to the heightwise curvature of the back-line portion of the last 21 on which the upper is to be shaped, thereby enabling the heel band to bring the bottom margin of the upper in the region of its back seam into intimate contact with the last. In order to insure intimate contact with the last of that portion of the upper adjacent to its lasting margin, the resilient backing plate M4 is provided with upwardly extending fingers I54 which are bent inwardly, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7.

Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, illustrate a hinged type of heel band having a rigid supporting member I55 which has the structural features of the combined dovetailed plate 48 and rigid member 158 in Fig.6and is extended laterally to provide bearings for pivot pins I58 on which are hinged plates I60 having a curvature substantially complementa-l to the peripheral curvature of the rear part of the last 21. The plates H50 carry a leather lining member I62 and interposed between the lining member and the plates are resilient cushions I64. At regularly spaced intervals, resilient metal fingers I66 are located between the cushions and the lining member, as seen in Fig. 9. Referring to Fig. 11, each finger I66 carries an outwardly extending pin H58 which projects through alined holes in the cushion IE4 and the plate I60 and serves to locate both the cushion and the finger heightwise of the heel band. The

lower portion of each finger I65 has a curved extension I'll] which provides a clip for holding the cushion and the plate together and for holding the finger against separation from the cushion.

In Figs. 12 and 13 there is illustrated a heel band which differs from the heel band illustrated in Fig. 6 only in that the resilient metal plate I12 which forms the backing or reinforcing member of the heel band is encased in a seamless envelope or cover PM which provides the workengaging surface. vided by spraying a solution containing a suitable plastic substance on said plate, or alternatively, by dipping the plate into such. a solution. Fig. 14 illustrates a heel band comprising a relatively thick leather cover I76 riveted to a rigid member I18 similar to the rigid member illustrated in Fig. 9, a thin leather lining I80 being'cementattached to the inner surface of the cover member to cover the rivets attaching the member H6 and the rigid member I18. It will be understood that other types of heel band than those herein illustrated may be employed in conjunction with the rigid heel band supporting member.

In the operation of the machine, a last such, for example, as the last 21 illustrated in Fig. 3 having an upper assembled thereon and having mounted on its sole face an insole I84 and a filler i88, is mounted on the last support 28, which is then in its toeward position illustrated in Fig. 1. The operator then depresses the treadle 28 to lift the shoe until the welted margin of the upper is so located heightwise that the wipers Hfl will engage the prewelt upper I88 within the welt crease. After positioning theshoe heightwise, the hand wheel 46 is actuated to bring the shoe into engagement with the heel band. The operator then actuates the hand lever 64 to close the heel band on the upper and to actuate the wipers IM to wipe the welted margin of the upper in over the This envelope may be pro-' insole l8! and into abutting relation to the filler I 86'. The heel band serves the double purpose of bringing the rear part of the upper into intimate contact with the lastandof so positioning the rear part of the last and upper widthwise thereof that the longitudinal median line of the last is centrally located relatively to the wipers and consequently the wipers overwipe the welted margin at opposite sides of the rear part of the upper to a uniform extent. The correct widthwise position of the shoe is assured by the rigid mounting of the dovetailed plate 48' and the rigid attachment of said plate to the central portion of the heel band, thus holding said central portion of the band against movement widthwise of the shoe. Inasmuch as the central portion of the heel band is substantially rigid in construction and symmetrical in shape, as shown in Fig. 4, and inasmuch as that portion of the heel end of the shoe engaged by said central portion of the heel band is complementally symmetrical in shape, it will be understood that the heel band will operate uniformly on right and left shoes. Because of its rigid central portion the heel band holds the last and the upper firmly in lasting position and prevents any widthwise movement thereof by reason of a difference in the resistance of opposite side portions of the upper to the wipers. Such diiference in resistance of opposite sides of the upper is particularly pronounced in those types of uppers in which the inside line of the shank has an inward curvature substantially greaterthan the inward curvature at the outside line of the shank, thus necessitating a greater inward bending of the welted margin at one side of the upper than at the other side.

Y After the heel wipers H4 and toe wipers (not shown) have completed their lasting operations, the upper is secured in lasted position in any known manner but preferably by cement-attaching a sole to the welt while the welt is supported by the wipers.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a lasting machine, the combination with a wiper-supporting head and a pair of wipers which advance bodily in their open position to a predetermined point having a fixed relation to said head and then close about said point as a fulcrum, of an end-embracing band which by contact with the shoe operates to determine the relation of said point to the shoe longitudinally of the shoe, 5. rigidly mounted band-supporting member, and means fixed to the central portion of the band for rigidly mounting said central portion on said band-supporting member.

2. Ina lasting machine, the combination with a wiper-supporting head and a pair of wipers which advance bodily in their open position to a predetermined point having a fixed relation to said head and then close about said point as a fulcrum, of a crosshead rigidly secured to said wiper-supporting head for positively determining the relation of said point to the shoe longitudinally of the shoe, and an end-embracing band rigidly mounted on said crosshead and arranged to position the shoe widthwise relatively to the wipers.

3. In a lasting machine, the combination with a wiper-supporting head and a pair of wipers which advance bodilyin their open position to a predetermined point having a fixed relation to said head and then close about said point as a fulcrum, of an unyielding means rigidly secured gea'em "-f-te seiirnezh 'rot{o erat ngdeterminin tii ieia t1ori' of said p'oiritto th'eshoe L longitudinally of "the "shoexat'the'gtime when the wip'eif 'ibegin to "saidjhead and then close'aboutsaidjpoint as'a Iiulcr'um; of an unyielding member rigidly, secured to sai'd'head, and an end-embracing band rigidly fmounted on said unyieldingjmember' and arirangedito position, the shoe widthwise relatively .to the wipers.

5. I n a lasting mag-Ha, the combination with a wiper-supporting head and ,apair of wipers n ounted in said head, of a crosshead extending "widthwise of the shoe and rigidlysecured to said ip r 'supporting ead and a ra to r? mine, the longitudinal position of the shoe r elag tively to said headgmeans' for'adjusting said crosshe'ad lengthwise of the shoe .r elativelyf t'o said wiper carrying head, "and'an'end embracing band rigidly 'mourited'on'said cross head,

6. In a shoe machine, a machine head, an endembracing band, means for rigidly supporting the central portion of said band in a predetermined position relatively to said head, an actuator for closing the end portions of said band on the shoe, presser members movable by said actuator and constructed and arranged to operate on the end portions of said band, said presser members being mounted for closing movements about a common axis extending heightwise of the shoe. and a crosshead constructed and arranged to act on both said presser members, said crosshead being freely movable with said members.

7. In a lasting machine, a wiper head, a pair of end-lasting wipers mounted in said head, an actuator for said wipers, an end-embracing band, means for rigidly supporting the central portion of said band in a predetermined position relatively to the wiper head, and connections from the wiper actuator for closing the end portions of said band on the shoe including upper clamping members constructed and arranged to operate on the end portions of said band, said members being mounted for closing movements about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe, and a crosshead connected to said members for operating them and freely movable with said members.

8. In a shoe machine, a machine head, an endembracing band, means for supporting the central portion of said band in a predetermined position relatively to said head, a pair of pressers for closing the end portions of said band on the shoe, said pressers being arranged for closing movements widthwise of the shoe on a common axis extending heightwise of the shoe, a crosshead the opposite ends of which are pivotally connected respectively to said pressers and freely movable therewith, and an actuator constructed and arranged to operate against said crosshead to press said pressers against the band.

9. In a lasting machine, the combination with a wiper head and a pair of lasting wipers mounted in said head, of a band-supporting member I backing member and constructed and arranged to-mount tlie bail-d rigidly on 's'aidban'd-supporting member. l

- IQfIn-a lasting machine', "the combination with "a'wip'er' head and a pair of lasting wipers mountiifsfaidhead'of a"-ba'nd-supporting member I igidly; secured to said head, and an end-em- ;bracingjbandcomprising a flexible upper-engagingmember, a resilient backing member, and 1 arigidm'e'mber secured to the central portion of gen backijng member "and" cons'tructed and arranged to"mou'nt' the band rigidly on said supporting member, the upper facingsu'rface of said e rs-temper"- having acurvature'heightwise of t e upper-complemental to the heightwise curva- ;t'ur'e"'of theextre'meend portion of the upper; H 11: In a lasting machinathe combination with Tawiperheadj and a:- pair of wipers mou nted in said head, of a band supporting member extending widthwise oi the shoe and rigidly secured to 5 opposite side portions of said head, an endg-embracing band, rigidfmounting member projecting fr im 'i the" central portion of said bandand in"- terloliking" connections between said 'mounting member and thebandsupportin-gmember.

12. In a lasting machine, an end-embracing band comprising a rigid central member and flexible work engaging means carried by said central member, a fixed rigid member in which said central member is mounted, and band-closing means constructed and arranged to engage opposite side portions of the band but having no physical connection thereto.

13. In a lasting machine, an end-embracing band comprising a rigid central member, a backing member carried by said central member, a work engaging member carried by said backing member, a fixed rigid member in which said central member is immovably mounted, and a pair of band-closing arms constructed and arranged to engage opposite side portions of the band but having no physical connection thereto.

14. In a lasting machine, an end-embracing ,band for bringing an end portion of an upper into intimate contact With a last comprising a flexible upper-engaging means and a rigid central member on which said flexible upper-engaging means is mounted, said central member being characterized by an upper-facing surface having a curvature heightwise of the last complemental to the curvature of an end portion of the last, and a pair of band-closing arms constructed and arranged to exert like pressure against opposite side portions of the band but having no physical connection thereto.

15. In a lasting machine, an end-embracing band comprising a rigid central member, opposite side members carried by said central member, a lining, cushioning means interposed between said side members and said lining, and a plurality of resilient members interposed between the lining and the cushioning means and constructed and arranged to determine the contour heightwise of the shoe of the shoe-engaging surface of the band.

16. In a lasting machine, an end-embracing band comprising a rigid central member, opposite side members carried by said central mem-=' ber, a lining, cushioning means interposed be tween said side members and said lining, a plurality of resilient members interposed between the lining and the cushioning means and constructed and arranged to determine the contour heightwise of the shoe of the shoe-engaging surface of the band, and locking means on said rigid central member constructed and arrangedv for interlocking engagement with a band supporting member.

1 7. In a lasting machine, an end-embracin band comprising an inflexible central member, an end-embracing plate-secured. to said member, and a seamless nvelope encasing said plate and providing the work-engaging surface of the band.

8. In a lasting machine, an end-embracing band comprising an inflexible central member, a flexible end-embracing plate secured .to said member, and a seamless cover completely coatin said plate.

19. In a lasting machine. an end-embracin band comprising an inflexible. central member. an end-embracing plate the central portion of which is rigidly secured to said member, said plate havin pwardly extending resilient fingers and a seamless coating completely covering said plate.

20. In a lasting machine, an end-embracing band comprising an inflexible central member. an end-embracing plate the central portion of which i secured to said member, and a coatin in which said plate is embeddedt 1c advance bodily in their open position to a pre- .'determined point having a fixed relation to said "mead and then close about said point a a fulcrum, of an end-embracing band which operates to determine the relation of said point to the 15 shoelongitudinally oi the shoe. a rigidly mounted wand-supporting member, means fixed to the =I'centra1portion of the band for rigidly mountin said -,central portion on said band-supporting member, means for supporting the shoe for the 20 ,lasting operation comprising a toe. rest and a heel support, and an actuator for lifting said toei'est and heel support as a unit to bring the shoe into lastin velevation.

ANDREW EPPLER, .Ja. 

